Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind.(Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East.(From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last.(Friends of Israel Initiative)

Monday, 10 July 2017

David Singer: Trump can end Israel-PLO impasse using India’s Vedanta Solution

Image: http://www.ndtv.com

Here's the latest article by Sydney lawyer and international affairs analyst David Singer.

He writes:

The first state visit ever to Israel by an Indian prime minister – Narendra Modi – could generate the impetus President Trump needs to end the diplomatic void caused by the breakdown in negotiations between Israel and the PLO since 2014.

The obvious warmth, mutual admiration and friendship shared by Modi and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was clearly evident – contrasting with the hostility, acrimony and venom shown to Israel that has become the norm at the United Nations, UNESCO and UNHRC.

Israel has historically had a long love affair with India’s Vedanta Movement (also known as the Ramakrishna Movement) – a worldwide spiritual movement headquartered near Kolkota in West Bengal.

Vedanta wishes and prays for the well-being, happiness and enlightenment of all the people of the world.

Writing on Modi’s visit, Khinvraj Jangid pointed out that Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion:

'… wrote, in September 1957, to Dr. Indra Sen (of the Aurobindo Ashram) praising the distinctive Indian approach to religion: "From Buddhism I have learned much about the history of religion and philosophy in India in general – and after I was enchanted by the Vedanta I began the study of the schools of Sankhya and Yoga. In his bedroom in the Negev kibbutz of Sde Boker, there was only one leader’s portrait: Gandhi’s.”'

Vedanta’s views on peace in the Middle East (“the Vedanta Solution”) were published in The Times of London on 16 March 1982 (see image below) by Vedanta’s British Chairman Swami Avyaktananda:

“It is generally not known that the East Bank [of the Jordan River – ed] was a part of ancient Palestine and when Britain obtained the Mandate for Palestine, the League of Nations included it in Palestine”

'The major portion of Jordan today is really East Palestine, the country on the other side of the Jordan being West Palestine. The handing-over of the territory east of the Jordan River to the Emir Abdullah was, to all intents and purposes, the first partition of Palestine [in 1946 – ed.]through which a large portion of Palestine [78% - ed.] went to Arab hands. This partition was not considered when the United Nations framed the Plan of partition of Palestine into Jewish Palestine and Arab Palestine [in 1947 – ed.].

If the Palestine Liberation Organisation accepts the historical facts presented here, considers sympathetically the Jewish aspirations and struggle for the National Home, National Language and National Culture for about 2000 years, and agrees to rethink the problems of the Middle East with goodwill and understanding then the problem of the Middle East will be solved without difficulty. The whole of ancient Palestine will be shared by Jews and Arabs through an amicable settlement if the Palestinian National Home is established in the East Bank of the Jordan. It can be called “New Palestine” and this naming will be quite correct.'

The PLO, Jordan and Israel can cooperatively implement the Vedanta Solution – extended to incorporate the allocation of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) between Jordan and Israel – or Jordan and Israel can so act jointly if the PLO refuses to participate.

Embracing the two-State Vedanta Solution – with Modi as a possible interlocutor – could be the Trojan Horse President Trump needs to broker a deal to end the Arab-Jewish conflict.

33 comments:

"The PLO, Jordan and Israel can cooperatively implement the Vedanta Solution – extended to incorporate the allocation of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) between Jordan and Israel – or Jordan and Israel can so act jointly if the PLO refuses to participate".

Above, does your so-called Vedanta Solution envisage that we concede a part of the Jewish people's historic land of J&S to the Arabs?

If so, it is extremely scary and troubling to me that you would propose giving up our land, which already has been portioned multiple times, either to "Palestinian" Arabs or Hashemite Arabs, both of whom are non-indigenous, unlike us. The latter, which has attacked us multiple times, desecrated our holy sites and made the area judenren while under its illegal occupation (1949-1967).

For Gd-sake, even the Swamy agrees that the partition of Israel (a.k.a. Palestine) already has occurred when Jordan was given the East Bank of Israel.

1.The Vedanta Solution is not my solution. It is the solution proposed by the Vedanta Movement.2.Israeli Governments have been prepared to trade land for peace since accepting the 1993 Oslo Accords.3. Israel has had a signed peace treaty with Jordan since 1994. People can kiss and make up - and so can States.4. The Vedanta Solution indeed sought to limit "New Palestine" to the East Bank of the Jordan. 35 years later its proposals - if insisted on by Israel without some acceptable form of territorial compromise between Jordan and Israel in Judea and Samaria - will not be accepted by the Arab world.5. Whatever claims the Jews had on the East Bank were relinquished by accepting article 25 of the Mandate. Similarly whatever rights the PLO had in Judea and Samaria were relinquished under Article 24 of the PLO Charter 1964. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

1. It is clear that the Vedanta Solution is not yours, but that proposed by the Indian Vedanta Movement. However, in your post above, you clearly embrace and support it!

2. Since Camp David, Israeli governments have been prepared to trade land for peace when peace, albeit cold peace, actually was forthcoming, such as with Egypt & Jordan.

However, it has been clear, at least from the second Intifida (if not long before) that the Arab "Palestinians" are not ever going to be able or willing to deliver peace.

After 30 years of sincere Israeli attempts at peace and countless concessions, they continue to car ram, stab and shoot Jewish Israeli's. Neither Fatah nor Hamas have revised their Charters. Both governments, especially that of the so-called "moderate" Palestinian Authority continue to name streets and landmarks for Jew killing terrorists, pay imprisoned terrorists and the families of dead terrorists, incite "martyrs" to kill Jews in the name of Gd and indoctrinate children to hate Jews.

Further, the PA, our so-called "peace-partner" is not even capable of making peace given that there still is no real functioning government, economy nor attempt at either. Additionally, there has been no reconciliation with Hamas and clearly it is not forthcoming. Fatah and Hamas remain at war and Fatah continues to leave Gaza in darkness with no electricity (which I agree with).

*It is clear that the majority of Israeli Jews no longer support land for peace nor believe the Arab "Palestinians" can deliver. Clearly, it is time to examine other solutions (e.g. Caroline Glick, Martin Shearman, Ted Bellman, etc.)

3. The Israeli "peace" treaty with Jordan is cold at best. It didn't seem to stop the "Island of Peace" massacre, the release of the terrorist who committed the atrocities (to a hero's welcome) nor the release and harboring of countless other Jew killing terrorists.

Further, the country is radicalized with threats to its sovereignty by ISIS, Al Qaida, Iran and countless other terrorist groups all looking to gain control of the country. Should any of them succeed to overthrow the Hashemites, our coveted peace treaty with Jordan will be null and void. This is a clear warning to Israel against making peace with volatile Arab regimes in the throws of the Arab spring.

4. Israel needs to act in its own self-interest, not what is acceptable to its Arab detractors which continue to defame and attack it in international forums and deny the Jewish connection to Irael, such as at the UN or UNESCO. More so, in the fight against radical Islam and Iran, these Arabs need Israel significantly more than we need them.

5. Without getting to long winded, title to Transjordan never was permanently relinquished by the Jews. Article 25 only permitted the British a temporary change in status. Howard Grief has written extensively on this.

1. It is clear that the Vedanta Solution is not yours, but that proposed by the Indian Vedanta Movement. However, in your post above, you clearly embrace and support it!

2. Since Camp David, Israeli governments have been prepared to trade land for peace when peace, albeit cold peace, actually was forthcoming, such as with Egypt & Jordan.

However, it has been clear, at least from the second Intifida (if not long before) that the Arab "Palestinians" are not ever going to be able or willing to deliver peace.

After 30 years of sincere Israeli attempts at peace and countless concessions, they continue to car ram, stab and shoot Jewish Israeli's. Neither Fatah nor Hamas have revised their Charters. Both governments, especially that of the so-called "moderate" Palestinian Authority continue to name streets and landmarks for Jew killing terrorists, pay imprisoned terrorists and the families of dead terrorists, incite "martyrs" to kill Jews in the name of Gd and indoctrinate children to hate Jews.

Further, the PA, our so-called "peace-partner" is not even capable of making peace given that there still is no real functioning government, economy nor attempt at either. Additionally, there has been no reconciliation with Hamas and clearly it is not forthcoming. Fatah and Hamas remain at war and Fatah continues to leave Gaza in darkness with no electricity (which I agree with).

*It is clear that the majority of Israeli Jews no longer support land for peace nor believe the Arab "Palestinians" can deliver. Clearly, it is time to examine other solutions (e.g. Caroline Glick, Martin Shearman, Ted Bellman, etc.)

3. The Israeli "peace" treaty with Jordan is cold at best. It didn't seem to stop the "Island of Peace" massacre, the release of the terrorist who committed the atrocities (to a hero's welcome) nor the release and harboring of countless other Jew killing terrorists.

Further, the country is radicalized with threats to its sovereignty by ISIS, Al Qaida, Iran and countless other terrorist groups all looking to gain control of the country. Should any of them succeed to overthrow the Hashemites, our coveted peace treaty with Jordan will be null and void. This is a clear warning to Israel against making peace with volatile Arab regimes in the throws of the Arab spring.

4. Israel needs to act in its own self-interest, not what is acceptable to its Arab detractors which continue to defame and attack it in international forums and deny the Jewish connection to Israel, such as at the UN or UNESCO. More so, in the fight against radical Islam and Iran, these Arabs need Israel significantly more than we need them.

5. Without getting to long winded, title to Trans Jordan never was permanently relinquished by the Jews. Article 25 only permitted the British a temporary change in status. Howard Grief has written extensively on this.

1. It is clear that the Vedanta Solution is not yours, but that proposed by the Indian Vedanta Movement. However, in your post above, you clearly embrace and support it!

2. Since Camp David, Israeli governments have been prepared to trade land for peace when peace, albeit cold peace, actually was forthcoming, such as with Egypt & Jordan.

However, it has been clear, at least from the second Intifida (if not long before) that the Arab "Palestinians" are not ever going to be able or willing to deliver peace.

After 30 years of sincere Israeli attempts at peace and countless concessions, they continue to car ram, stab and shoot Jewish Israeli's. Neither Fatah nor Hamas have revised their Charters. Both governments, especially that of the so-called "moderate" Palestinian Authority continue to name streets and landmarks for Jew killing terrorists, pay imprisoned terrorists and the families of dead terrorists, incite "martyrs" to kill Jews in the name of Gd and indoctrinate children to hate Jews.

Further, the PA, our so-called "peace-partner" is not even capable of making peace given that there still is no real functioning government, economy nor attempt at either. Additionally, there has been no reconciliation with Hamas and clearly it is not forthcoming. Fatah and Hamas remain at war and Fatah continues to leave Gaza in darkness with no electricity (which I agree with).

*It is clear that the majority of Israeli Jews no longer support land for peace nor believe the Arab "Palestinians" can deliver. Clearly, it is time to examine other solutions (e.g. Caroline Glick, Martin Shearman, Ted Bellman, etc.)

3. The Israeli "peace" treaty with Jordan is cold at best. It didn't seem to stop the "Island of Peace" massacre, the release of the terrorist who committed the atrocities (to a hero's welcome) nor the release and harboring of countless other Jew killing terrorists.

Further, the country is radicalized with threats to its sovereignty by ISIS, Al Qaida, Iran and countless other terrorist groups all looking to gain control of the country. Should any of them succeed to overthrow the Hashemites, our coveted peace treaty with Jordan will be null and void. This is a clear warning to Israel against making peace with volatile Arab regimes, such as the PA, in the throws of the Arab spring.

4. Israel needs to act in its own self-interest, not what is acceptable to its Arab detractors which continue to defame and attack it in international forums and deny the Jewish connection to Irael, such as at the UN or UNESCO. More so, in the fight against radical Islam and Iran, these Arabs need Israel significantly more than we need them.

5. Without getting to long winded, title to Transjordan never was permanently relinquished by the Jews. Article 25 only permitted the British a temporary change in status. Howard Grief has written extensively on this.

1. Failed 2-state Solution.Earlier in the day, Yisrael Beytenu party chairman and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman called on the Trump administration to change course in its peacemaking style, and abandon the failing bilateral approach.

Speaking at the weekly faction meeting, Liberman pointed out that numerous governments have tried – and failed – to make peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority since the 1993 signing of the Oslo Accords. The Ramallah government refused all attempts, regardless of who made the effort, and regardless of what was contained in the plan.

2. Article by Mudar Zahran the Jordanian Palestinian writer and the secretary general of the Jordanian Opposition Coalition.

In the article, he states that "Jordan’s regime’s alliance with the MB is deeper than generally realized" and details its very close relationship w/ the Muslim Brotherhood and thus Qatar.

In fact, he states that "while the king [of Jordan] bans secularists and liberals for a mere tweet, the MB owns its licensed satellite TV network and daily paper in which they consistently preach terrorism and death to America and the Jews".

1. The two-state solution involving the creation of a second Arab State - in addition to Jordan - in the territory comprised in the Mandate - has been an abysmal failure. It was doomed to failure since it was dreamed up by George Bush and the Quartet in 2002. I have consistently maintained that view in scores of articles published since then.

The Palestinian Authority no longer exists. It was disbanded on 3 January 2013.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-v-whitbeck/the-state-of-palestine-ex_b_2431690.html

Why anyone in Israel still uses that term is a real mystery.

2. You cannot run away from the fact that Jordan and Israel have maintained a signed peace agreement since 1994 that has withstood many events that could easily have railroaded it. Zahran is entitled to his opinion, you to yours and me to mine. Time will show whose analysis is correct.

It is good manners to cite the link to any articles you quote from. Could you please do so with the Zahran article you are referring to.

****************************************************

You have posted three other very similar responses for the second time to this article which you should surely find embarrassing. I do not intend to deal with any of these comments until you indicate which one of the three you want a reply to.

Can you please try and avoid this practice. You have done it previously and I would suggest you try and get what you want to say right the first time.

1. Based on all of your previous postings and our discussions, I find it hard to believe that you do not support the creation of another Arab state(s) in "the territory comprised in the Mandate".

Even if I am to take you at your word, clearly you still support ceeding very strategically valuable land to Jordan thru the "allocation of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) between Jordan and Israel under the two-State Vedanta Solution – with Modi as a possible interlocutor".

As a side note, despite recognition by the UN General Assembly as an "Observer State", only a positive vote by the UN Security Council vote could confer statehood on the PA. Even that would be highly dubiious as the Palestinian entity fails to satisfy the traditional legal criteria for statehood, such as effective and independent governmental control of a clearly defined territory & a permanent population, none of which exists.

Additionally, both a unilateral declaration of statehood by the PA and/or conference of statehood by the by UN is a breach of the 1995 Israeli-Palestinian agreement on the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending a final peace accord.

2. As I stated above, the "peace" treaty with Jordan is cold at best.

Further, with Jordan already radicalized to the brink and with threats to its sovereignty by ISIS, Al Qaida, Iran and countless other terrorist groups why should or would Israel want to ceede it more land. Especially, land with such enormous strategic value. J&S is critical to defending against attack from the east as it provides at least a minimum amount of stratetic depth and defensible borders.

Amidst the volatile Arab "Spring" no peace treaty with any Arab entity (let alone the ceeding of land to such entity) would be worth the paper on which it is written. Why take such a risk?

3. I provided you the name of the author, date of publication and topic. With your skills, finding it should be easy.

Appologize for the multiple posts, but I keep modifying tidbits here and there. Will try to keep the numbe of posts at a minimum.

I am always suspicious of persons like you who make this kind of comment: "I provided you the name of the author, date of publication and topic. With your skills, finding it should be easy."

Such a comment indicates that the person making it has something to hide and is being less than frank - hoping that the person to whom it is made will not track down the source.

So I went to the source and found what Zahran said in the paragraph before and the paragraph after the one sentence you "quote":http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/opinions/what-you-do-not-know-about-the-qatar-crisis/2017/07/10/

"Some may be perplexed by the claim that Jordan’s regime supports the MB. Jordan and Qatar both provide support for the MB. Jordan’s royal family, the Hashemites, have been in a full alliance with MB since the 1950s. The MB were the ones who supported the kingdom’s founder, Emir Abdallah, in annexing the West Bank. They also stood with the Hashemites in 1970 during their civil war with the PLO. This fact has been confirmed by Jordan’s king himself in a 2013 interview with The Atlantic magazine.

Further, Jordan’s regime’s alliance with the MB is deeper than generally realized.

In November 2012, Jordan witnessed the largest Arab Spring-style revolution. One million took to the street demanding that the king steps down. Despite overwhelming popular sentiment, the MB openly stood against the revolution and said: “We will never allow the king to fall.” While the MB is banned in most Arab countries, in Jordan, they are registered as a charity, a political organization, and a private business. While the king bans secularists and liberals for a mere tweet, the MB owns its licensed satellite TV network and daily paper in which they consistently preach terrorism and death to America and the Jews."

1. Constantly deflect and change topics when proven to be incredibly wrong. For example, your response above which completely avoids responding to my points proving you support giving very strategic land to Jordan and our enemies. This is not the first time you have deflected; and

2. Make inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine.

Based on your above response which completely avoids responding to my points, should I assume you concede them?

1. Constantly deflect and change topics when proven to be incredibly wrong or bordering on the insane. For example, your response above completely avoids responding to my points proving you support giving very strategic land to Jordan and our enemies.

This is not the first time you have deflected; and

2. Make incredibly inaccurate statements using questionable sources.

For example, your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine (because as your article says the UNGA approved it and Abbas said it was the case!).

Certainly, as an "international lawyer" you must understand how that can't be accurate (I laid it out for you above).

Based on your above response which completely avoids responding to my points, should I assume you concede them?

*I violated my promise not to reply twice but I am in the middle of meetings and don't want to leave anything out.

As I appreciate you educating me in a previous post on proper BLOG etiquette and limiting similar posts, I would like to return the favor.

As such, I have two suggestions that you may or may not wish to follow. Firstly, I would suggest that you think carefully before posting as to actually what you wish to convey in your post. I say this because I truly don't believe that you believe Israel conceding land in J&S to Jordan is good for the country in any circumstance.

Secondly, I think you embarrass yourself with inaccurate and misleading statements such as that the UNGA vote and the PA's declaration are sufficient to confer statehood on the PA. I am not an "international lawyer" like you, but this sort of information is readily available on the internet and a high-schooler could figure it out.

However, I do appreciate your blogs as they serve as a way for me to refresh my knowledge of the situation in Israel and as a means to reinforce my beliefs in the right solution.

Clearly, the solution is not the that of the Indian Swami nor your modification of it, both which would cede more of the Jewish peoples Gd given land and security to Jordan, which is an anti-Jewish radicalized Islamist country teetering on the brink of destruction.

1. Constantly deflect and change topics when proven to be incredibly wrong. For example, your response above which completely avoids responding to my points proving you support giving very strategic land to Jordan and our enemies. This is not the first time you have deflected; and

2. Make inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine.

Based on your above response which completely avoids responding to my points, should I assume you concede them?

Noah You make the following unsubstantiated claims:1. “Based on all of your previous postings and our discussions, I find it hard to believe that you do not support the creation of another Arab state(s) in "the territory comprised in the Mandate".

A totally baseless and highly offensive comment.

You can read 462 of my published articles at the following link which refute your irrational claim:http://jordanispalestine.blogspot.com.au/

Please try and base your comments on fact not fantasy.

2. “Even if I am to take you at your word, clearly you still support ceeding (sic) very strategically valuable land to Jordan”

“your response above completely avoids responding to my points proving you support giving very strategic land to Jordan and our enemies.”

Where have I ever said that? Putting words in my mouth that I never have uttered is absolutely disgraceful. Israel will decide what is “strategically valuable land” in Judea and Samaria and will certainly not cede these areas to Jordan.

3. “Make inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine.”

“Make incredibly inaccurate statements using questionable sources.

For example, your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine (because as your article says the UNGA approved it and Abbas said it was the case!).”

I did not make either of the above claims you dishonestly and reprehensibly allege and misrepresent.

This is what I actually said: “The Palestinian Authority no longer exists. It was disbanded on 3 January 2013.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-v-whitbeck/the-state-of-palestine-ex_b_2431690.html”

Again you try to put words into my mouth that I never uttered.

This was intended to be a polite reminder to you that the terms “PA” or “Palestinian Authority” should not be used any longer because that body was disbanded on 3 January 2013.

You used those terms three times in one post.

The term you should use in the future is “the Palestine Liberation Organisation”.

1. You state:“Even if I am to take you at your word, clearly you still support ceeding (sic) very strategically valuable land to Jordan”

“your response above completely avoids responding to my points proving you support giving very strategic land to Jordan and our enemies.”

"Where have I ever said that? Putting words in my mouth that I never have uttered is absolutely disgraceful. Israel will decide what is “strategically valuable land” in Judea and Samaria and will certainly not cede these areas to Jordan".

My Reply:CLEARLY, YOU CALL FOR AND SUPPORT A MODIFICATION OF THE SWAMI'S "VEDANTA SOLUTION" TO INCLUDE PARTS OF J&S, WOULD CEDE VALUABLE ISRAELI LAND JORDAN IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE IN J&S.

IN YOUR POST, YOU STATE:

"The PLO, Jordan and Israel can cooperatively implement the Vedanta Solution – extended to incorporate the allocation of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) between Jordan and Israel – or Jordan and Israel can so act jointly if the PLO refuses to participate.

"Embracing the two-State Vedanta Solution – with Modi as a possible interlocutor – could be the Trojan Horse President Trump needs to broker a deal to end the Arab-Jewish conflict".

AS I STATED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOVE, ANY CEDING OF LAND TO JORDAN WILL STRATEGICALLY COMPRISES ISRAEL AND ITS SECURITY. NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT REDUCES WHAT LITTLE STRATEGIC DEPTH & DEFENSIBLE BORDERS WE HAVE, BUT BECAUSE THE PEACE WITH JORDAN IS FRAGILE AND JORDAN REMAINS A RADICALIZED COUNTRY IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING ITS SOVEREIGNTY TO ISLAMISTS.

2. You state:“Make inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine.”

“Make incredibly inaccurate statements using questionable sources".

"For example, your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine (because as your article says the UNGA approved it and Abbas said it was the case!).”

"I did not make either of the above claims you dishonestly and reprehensibly allege and misrepresent".

My reply:

IT IS CLEAR THAT YOUR MERE MENTION OF THE PALESTINIAN DECLARATION OF STATEHOOD AND THUS CHANGE OF NAME TO THE STATE OF PALESTINE IS ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT DEFLECTING FROM THE REAL DEBATE, WHICH IS YOUR RIDICULOUS SWAMI PROPOSAL TO CEDE MORE OF OUR LAND TO JORDAN.

HOWEVER, I HAVE COME TO EXPECT DEFLECTION FROM YOU.

NONE-THE-LESS, I WILL ADDRESS IT YET AGAIN.

IN ADDITION TO MY PREVIOUS ARGUMENTS ABOVE, WHICH ARE BASED IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, BELOW I HAVE ATTACHED [TO SAVE YOU THE TROUBLE OF SEARCHING] A LINK TO THE DEC. 2016 CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH REPORT ON "US AID TO THE PALESTINIANS". THIS REPORT WAS PUBLISHED LONG AFTER ABBAS AND THE UN ILLEGALLY DECLARED THE STATE OF PALESTINE.

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS22967.pdf

IN THE REPORT, THE AUTHOR REFERS TO THE PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT AS THE "PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY" OR "PA".

BELOW IS A RANDOM LIST OF SOME OTHER GOVERNMENTAL WEBSITES THAT I FOUND QUICKLY ALSO WHICH STILL REFER TO THE "PA".

I do not intend to reply to your last posted comments (13 July 2017 at 18.51) until you unconditionally and unreservedly withdraw these following comments made by you in earlier posts:

1. “Based on all of your previous postings and our discussions, I find it hard to believe that you do not support the creation of another Arab state(s) in "the territory comprised in the Mandate".

2. “Even if I am to take you at your word, clearly you still support ceeding (sic) very strategically valuable land to Jordan”

3. “your response above completely avoids responding to my points proving you support giving very strategic land to Jordan and our enemies.”

4. “Make inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine.”

5. “Make incredibly inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example, your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine (because as your article says the UNGA approved it and Abbas said it was the case!).”

When you unconditionally and unreservedly withdraw your above comments I will respond to your latest post.

Anyway, your last posted comments (14 July 2017 at 08.08) are just another attempt at avoiding having to address my points. I call it DEFLECTION!

Clearly, if you had an answer to my last posted comments (13 July 2017 at 18.51) you would not hessitate to respond.

The bottom line is that your modified Swami Proposal not well thoughtout nor well conceived, is wreckless and dangerous and shows a complete lack of understanding as to the actual situation in Israel.

To reiterate, Jordan is no friend of Israel, supports and harbors radical islamists and terrorists w/ Jewish blood on their hands and can barely defend its sovereignty. That you propose not only to cede them more of our land, but land with great strategic importance, is scarry.

However, I assume writting from the comfort and safety of your armchair in Australia affords you that luxury.

So, in case the above is not clear, in no way do I withdraw my previous statements (13 July 2017 at 18.51). In fact, you should admit the error of your proposal and your support for a another (maybe 2) Arab terrorist states on Israel's border.

NoahI do not intend to reply to your last four posted comments until you unconditionally and unreservedly withdraw these following comments made by you in earlier posts (1 to 5) and in your post of 14 July at 13.51 (6 and 7):

1. “Based on all of your previous postings and our discussions, I find it hard to believe that you do not support the creation of another Arab state(s) in "the territory comprised in the Mandate".

2. “Even if I am to take you at your word, clearly you still support ceeding (sic) very strategically valuable land to Jordan”

3. “your response above completely avoids responding to my points proving you support giving very strategic land to Jordan and our enemies.”

4. “Make inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine.”

5. “Make incredibly inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example, your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine (because as your article says the UNGA approved it and Abbas said it was the case!).”

6. "Why would I withdraw any of those points when in fact they are true?

Anyway, your last posted comments (14 July 2017 at 08.08) are just another attempt at avoiding having to address my points. I call it DEFLECTION!"

7. "So, in case the above is not clear, in no way do I withdraw my previous statements (13 July 2017 at 18.51)."

When you unconditionally and unreservedly withdraw your above comments I will respond to your your four last posts.

You continue to assert:“My statements are true and I NEVER will retract them.”

Yet you already have retracted two the seven statements to which I took strong exception:1. “Even if I am to take you at your word, clearly you still support ceeding (sic) very strategically valuable land to Jordan”2. “your response above completely avoids responding to my points proving you support giving very strategic land to Jordan and our enemies.”

In your reply dated 13 July at 18.51 you state:“CLEARLY, YOU CALL FOR AND SUPPORT A MODIFICATION OF THE SWAMI'S "VEDANTA SOLUTION" TO INCLUDE PARTS OF J&S, WOULD CEDE VALUABLE ISRAELI LAND JORDAN IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE IN J&S.”

Clearly “valuable Israeli land” is not the same as “very strategically valuable land”.

This was your first concession.

Then in your reply dated 14 July at 18.54 you state:“The bottom line is you support giving our land to Jordan.”

Clearly “our land” has a different meaning to “very strategically valuable land” or “valuable Israeli land”

You see Noah – language is very important – especially where the Jewish-Arab conflict is concerned.

You have changed tack three times in regard to the above two offending allegations you continue to make against me – which stubbornly you continue to maintain are true.

I repeat – until you unconditionally and unreservedly withdraw all seven statements to which I have taken exception, I do not intend to respond to your posts. When you do I will respond.

Once again, you play on semantics to hide the fact that YOU SUPPORT CEDING VERY VERY STRATEGICALLY SIGNIFICANT land to Jordan under the "Modified Swami" proposal and/or to the Arab "Palestinians" under a 2-state solution..

I am writing to you in between meetings, flights, etc., so please excuse me if the wording changes.

To be clear, "very strategically valuable land" and/or "valuable Israeli land" means the same thing. Both of my phrases refer to any land in J&S (or Israel for that matter), portions of which you would cede and which I would not.

You continue to hide behind semantics and to deflect from your ridiculous proposals.

However, your willingness to cede our land to our enemies is clear to the reader.

Dear me – now a fourth term is introduced by you:“ VERY VERY STRATEGICALLY SIGNIFICANT land”

You offer this pathetic excuse:“I am writing to you in between meetings, flights, etc., so please excuse me if the wording changes”

No I won’t excuse you.

With your latest posts also come the following comment which I find offensive and ask you to unconditionally and unreservedly withdraw along with the seven I have previously asked you to do:“Your veiled offer to respond should I retract statements I made which reflect truths regarding your eagerness to give our land to our enemies is worthless.”For the record – here are the eight statements made by you to be unconditionally and unreservedly withdrawn:

1. “Based on all of your previous postings and our discussions, I find it hard to believe that you do not support the creation of another Arab state(s) in "the territory comprised in the Mandate".

2. “Even if I am to take you at your word, clearly you still support ceeding (sic) very strategically valuable land to Jordan”

3. “your response above completely avoids responding to my points proving you support giving very strategic land to Jordan and our enemies.”

4. “Make inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine.”

5. “Make incredibly inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example, your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine (because as your article says the UNGA approved it and Abbas said it was the case!).”

6. "Why would I withdraw any of those points when in fact they are true?

Anyway, your last posted comments (14 July 2017 at 08.08) are just another attempt at avoiding having to address my points. I call it DEFLECTION!"

7. "So, in case the above is not clear, in no way do I withdraw my previous statements."

8. “Your veiled offer to respond should I retract statements I made which reflect truths regarding your eagerness to give our land to our enemies is worthless.”

Hope you can find the time between your meetings, flights etc to realise what a complete fool you are making of yourself.

It is clear beyond a shadow of a doubt by your numerous replies and by your posts that you have no counter to my accusations and can only attempt to deflect.

Unfortunately, for you, Daphne's readers likely are too intelligent for your pathetic attempt to avoid responsibility for your aggregious proposals. Several of the worst such proposals (and quite funny too) are listed below:

1. The "Modified Swami" proposal whereby Israel would give some of its land to Jordan. Aside from the enormous strategic importance of said land to Israel and its security and the risks posed by giving it to Jordan as I have outlined above, it is obvious to anyone with the ability to read a periodical that Jordan NEVER would accept such a proposal.

2. 2-State Solution. Again, this has proved futile to all but the most recalcitrant and/or ignorant believers. Not only is it a capitulation of the Jewish peoples Gd given right to Israel and a major security risk, but the PA (yes, the PA as it is called) has proven unwilling and incapable of accepting it.

Maybe, your next post will have a more creative proposal, like the Alien Proposal or maybe Jesus will return with a solution?

In either case, I look forward to another good laugh when reading it. While inane, your posts always entertain!

BY THE WAY, not only are you a deflector, you are a great contradiction. You continue to contradict yourself, which may be why your posts are so wacky.

Despite your fourth refusal to respond to me until I retract the above eight statements highlighting the inanities of your posts, your last post looks very much like another reply (to me).

For the record – I again repeat there are eight statements made by you to be unconditionally and unreservedly withdrawn:

1. “Based on all of your previous postings and our discussions, I find it hard to believe that you do not support the creation of another Arab state(s) in "the territory comprised in the Mandate".

2. “Even if I am to take you at your word, clearly you still support ceeding (sic) very strategically valuable land to Jordan”

3. “your response above completely avoids responding to my points proving you support giving very strategic land to Jordan and our enemies.”

4. “Make inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine.”

5. “Make incredibly inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example, your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine (because as your article says the UNGA approved it and Abbas said it was the case!).”

6. "Why would I withdraw any of those points when in fact they are true?

Anyway, your last posted comments (14 July 2017 at 08.08) are just another attempt at avoiding having to address my points. I call it DEFLECTION!"

7. "So, in case the above is not clear, in no way do I withdraw my previous statements."

8. “Your veiled offer to respond should I retract statements I made which reflect truths regarding your eagerness to give our land to our enemies is worthless.”

Until you do I will not be responding to any of your comments in relation to this article or any previous or subsequent articles published under my name.

The above 8 statements accurately reflect your views and opinions on Israel & its security and your lack of knowledge regarding facts on the ground.

I won't re-address each statement, but a few of your most ridiculous are as follows in no particular order:

1. The PA is now widely called the State of Palestine

2. The "Modified Swami Plan" "could end the Arab-Jewish Conflict".

This is one of your most inane comments as not only will our ceding of our Gd given land show weakness and embolden the Arabs, the "Palestinian" Arabs & our enemies, reduce our strategic depth and borders, but the Kingdom never would accept the return of a significant number of Arab "Palestinians"; and

3. Your embrace of the 2-State solution.

ALL of Daphne's readers understand why this can't succeed. I will not reiterate here.

However, I look forward to your next posting. It should make for a good laugh.

For the record there are now 10 statements made by you to be unconditionally and unreservedly withdrawn:

1. “Based on all of your previous postings and our discussions, I find it hard to believe that you do not support the creation of another Arab state(s) in "the territory comprised in the Mandate".

2. “Even if I am to take you at your word, clearly you still support ceeding (sic) very strategically valuable land to Jordan”

3. “your response above completely avoids responding to my points proving you support giving very strategic land to Jordan and our enemies.”

4. “Make inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine.

5. “Make incredibly inaccurate statements using questionable sources. For example, your claim that the PA has been dissolved and has become the state of Palestine (because as your article says the UNGA approved it and Abbas said it was the case!).”

6. "Why would I withdraw any of those points when in fact they are true?

Anyway, your last posted comments (14 July 2017 at 08.08) are just another attempt at avoiding having to address my points. I call it DEFLECTION!"

7. "So, in case the above is not clear, in no way do I withdraw my previous statements."

8. “Your veiled offer to respond should I retract statements I made which reflect truths regarding your eagerness to give our land to our enemies is worthless.”

HERE is an excerpt from the article in case you have too much trouble reading the link:

The worshipers are being egged on by incitement from the Palestinian Authority’s leading Fatah faction, Gaza’s ruling Hamas terrorist organization, Jordan’s parliament and its Speaker, Atef Tarawneh, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and other external Muslim forces: all of them linked in one way or another to the Muslim Brotherhood and organized towards the goal of destabilizing the social fabric and peace of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.

The Jordanian parliament on Sunday praised the terrorists who murdered two Israeli police officers and wounded others, praying for their souls. “May the mercy of Allah be upon our martyrs who sowed and watered the pure land,” said Parliament Speaker Atef Tarawneh. “We will raise our heads through the sacrifice of the young Palestinians who are still fighting in the name of the nation.”

Terror Groups Eyeing Israel's Destruction from inside NGOs

Two stalwarts go sleuthing:

For their findings cliick on image

"The research suggests that antisemitism is the fuel that primes the PSC engine"

To read the research report click on image

'For as long as these antisemites wrap themselves up in the Palestinian flag, too many people are willing to turn a blind eye. Only against Jews is this type of racism openly tolerated. It is flourishing in schools, colleges, universities, unions and in city councils. In fact, so rampant is the disease now, in some settings you can be ostracised if you do not partake in the frenzy yourself. Bashing Jews has becomes a trendy position for the ignorant social justice warrior. "Palestinianism" is a viral "ponzi scheme" and as it spreads, it carries antisemitism in the undergrowth.' David Collier (2017)

'This new rise in antisemitism, which I had thought long dead, was not shaven-headed white imbeciles from the far right. It was Muslims, a large chunk of it.... Suddenly I grasped that the British far left didn’t want people to know about antisemitism because it pointed the finger at people they really, really liked. From that moment on, it all fell into place.... Time and again the same tropes emerged, the same sort of stuff that Streicher and Goebbels would have commended – and uttered.... And from that a whole bunch of other stuff emerged: the old blood libel business (a favourite of the repulsive Jenny Tonge).... Nice, avuncular, Jeremy Corbyn, with his peace badges, happily laying a wreath at the graveside of Palestinian terrorists who murdered innocent Jewish athletes, oh, and much much more.... It is the same antisemitism, exactly the same: the obsession with Israel to the exclusion of everything else, the conspiracy theory paranoias, the derangement.... Here’s the test – if you cannot see the flagrant racism in the BDS movement, and if you are obsessed with the perfidy of the Middle East’s only democracy to the exclusion of all else, you are an antisemite. That means a good proportion of the Labour Party, including the leader, and almost all of Momentum: no brown shirts, no marching bands, but the same old filth, dressed in the clothes of a polytechnic geography lecturer.'Rod Liddle (2018)

Pro-Israel Down Under

Shalom and Welcome to my blog!I'm the little Aussie blogger who took the screenshot and broke the story of Stephen Sizer's notorious 9/11 post, and I've since broken two other stories that subsequently went viral, one Australia-wide and one, thanks to the sterling work of two other bloggers, worldwide. I remain very surprised and very honoured to have been co-winner, Best Pro-Israel Blog, Hasby Awards, 2013Please "Like" me on Facebook; my Facebook page ishere

'In a region where women are stoned, gays are hanged, Christians are persecuted, Israel ... is different.... Of the 300 million Arabs in the Middle East and North Africa, only Israel's Arab citizens enjoy real democratic rights.... Israel is not what is wrong about the Middle East. Israel is what is right about the Middle East.' Bibi Netanyahu (20 Iyar 5771; 24 May 2011)Scroll to end for more quotations

Tired of anti-Balfour agitprop?

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Balfour and Beyond

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Try this for Sizer

Sizer 101. Click image for link

'Before the June 1967 Six Day War, there were no such things as "settlements". Palestinians were trying to destroy and displace Israel anyhow. The core problem is not, and never was, "settlements," but the right of Israel (or any non-Muslim nation) to exist inside any borders in that part of the world.If you take a stand that is based on a lie, then that stand cannot succeed. If you try to oppose antisemitism but pretend it is the same thing as "Islamophobia," then the structure on which you have made your stand will totter and all your aspirations will fail. If you try to make a stand based on the idea that settlement construction rather than the intransigence of the Palestinians to the existence of a Jewish state is what is holding up a peace deal, then facts will keep on intruding.' Douglas Murray (31 December 2016)https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9685/britain-little-lies

BDS is Antisemitic

Click image to learn why

The Bigotry & Immorality of BDS

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'Islamophobia does NOT come from the same wellspring of hatred as antisemitism. Antisemitism is a true prejudice because the hatred and demonisation it promotes derive entirely from lies and a repudiation of rationality itself. Islamophobia is a false allegation of prejudice which is deployed to silence rational criticism based on actual facts about attitudes and practices within the Islamic world. [L]ethally compromised even-handedness is to misunderstand, and thus minimise, antisemitic attitudes and behaviour while shutting down legitimate and necessary discussion of the threat from the Islamic world – even to demonise as “Islamophobic” anyone who draws attention to the extent and consequences of Muslim antisemitism.' Melanie Phillips (14 December 2016)

"Selling a house to a Jew is a betrayal of Allah"

To read more click image

Maps of Mendacity & Mischief

Click image to learn why

These misleading maps were deliberately prepared to date from 1946 – intentionally papering over the momentous events that had occurred between 1917 and 1945. Attempts to unravel binding precepts of international law established between 1917 and 1945 – and failing to insist on their being upheld and enforced – has a lot to do with the sorry situation the world finds itself in today.David Singer (2016)

How They Twist the Truth!

Click image for more on the lies

Jews have re-assumed the role of the canary in the mine and are the first to be targeted, but the world would face the same threat if Jews did not exist. Israel has been at the front lines confronting Islamic extremism but has received scant support... For Jews, the writing has been on the wall for a long time. The virulence of the antisemitic hatred closing in on Jews in Europe (and elsewhere) is horrifying... Europe is today facing a crisis as serious as the confrontation with Nazism. If Western leaders continue behaving like Chamberlain and fail to stand up to this global threat, it could usher in a new Dark Age in which the Judeo-Christian culture is subsumed by primitive barbarism. The writing is on the wall Isi Leibler (12 January 2015)

Expose The Lies!

There is a war of lies and deceit on the internet generating unbelievable hate by denigrating and delegitimising the legal rights conferred on the Jewish people by the League of Nations in 1922 and the United Nations in 1945. The idea that there are two narratives on the Arab-Jewish conflict is rubbish. There is only one – the factual truth that details the return of the Jewish people to reconstitute the Jewish National Home in its ancient biblical, ancestral and historic homeland after 3500 years of dispersion with the unanimous endorsement of the nation states then comprising the League of Nations.... Generals can’t fight a war without soldiers. Jews around the world need to join the fight or vacate the internet to the Jew-haters and their lies that repeated often enough eventually become accepted as truth.David Singer (2016)

Exposing Lies

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The "Apartheid" Slur

The division of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) into three separate areas “A”, “B” and “C” was agreed on by Israel and the PLO pursuant to the Oslo Accords.95% of the West Bank Arabs live in Areas A and B and their daily lives are under the total administration and control of the PLO since the Palestinian Authority was disbanded by Abbas in January 2013. The PLO has total security control in A and shares security control in B with Israel. Israel has total administrative and security control in C.Israel is entitled to and will continue to take responsibility for the security of Jews living in the West Bank.Jews were given the legal right to settle in the West Bank under article 6 of the Mandate for Palestine and article 80 of the UN Charter. They did so for decades until they were driven out in 1947 and not able to return there until 1967.There are Arab roads only in the West Bank that Jews are not allowed to use. Jews are also forbidden from entering Area “A”. Selling land to Jews is forbidden by the PLO under pain of death. The PLO runs the daily lives of 95% of the West Bank Arabs and Hamas runs the daily lives of 100% of the Gazan Arabs. They have been under occupation – and subjugation – by these two evil groups for the last ten years and given no say in their future or any opportunity to elect others to lead them following the disastrous political decisions of their leaders over the past ten years. Hamas and the PLO do not accept the continued existence of a Jewish State and call for its disappearance. The narratives did not begin in 1948 – they began in about 1917. How do you make peace with an enemy that has been obsessed with not recognising any Jewish national rights in former Palestine for the last 100 years?David Singer (2016)

Telling the Truth

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The Jews of the Holy Land ... are surrounded by hostile states 650 times their territory and sixty times their population. Yet their last, best hope of ending two millennia of international persecution - the State of Israel - has somehow survived. When, during the Second World War, the island of Malta came through three terrible years of bombardment and destruction, it was rightly awarded the George Cross for bravery. Today, Israel should be awarded a similar decoration for defending democracy, tolerance and Western values against a murderous onslaught that has lasted twenty times as long.Andrew Roberts (historian)

A voice of courage & reason

He knows, y'know

An Aussie demo against BDS

On the left, black people are usually allowed to define what’s racism; women can define sexism; Muslims are trusted to define Islamophobia. But when Jews call out something as antisemitic, leftist non-Jews feel curiously entitled to tell Jews they’re wrong, that they are exaggerating or lying or using it as a decoy tactic – and to then treat them to a long lecture on what anti-Jewish racism really is. Jonathan Freedland (The Guardian, 29 April 2016)

An awkward fact for some!

Socialist thought was tainted from its very origins with the heavy baggage of anti-Jewish stereotypes. Robert Wistrich, From Ambivalence to Betrayal:The Left, the Jews, and Israel (2012)

BDS hypocrisy!

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Want more?

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Israel is understandably obsessed with security, but its greatest security lies ultimately not in the Israeli Defence Forces, but in political warfare.... Most of the world is not deeply interested in what happens in Israel, and probably does not want to be deluged with legalistic defences of particular actions. What it wants is a clear, calm, repeated case. It is a case – aimed more at public opinion than at foreign ministries – about freedom, democracy, a Western way of life and the need for the whole of the free world to fight terrorism. Sometimes you hear Israelis say: “It doesn’t matter what we say. The whole world is against us.” You can see why they say it, for they are indeed unfairly treated. But when they say it, they are uttering a self-fulfilling prophecy. If they won’t say what needs saying, no one else will say it for them. Charles Moore (2010)

Once again the armies of the Arab nations are coordinating their military efforts to destroy Israel - whatever they say about wishing merely to regain the lost territories.... [I]f the present Arab offensive had been launched at the pre-1967 frontiers, then the Israelis would indeed have been fighting to avoid annihilation. It seems now that the Israelis were right to maintain the ceasefire lines gained in 1967, and that to do so is the only guarantee of their continued safety.Alan Sillitoe (The Times, 11 October 1973)

A nuclear Iran threatens our existence

Iran and ISIS are competing for the crown of militant Islam... In this deadly game of thrones, there’s no place for America or for Israel, no place for Christians, Jews or Muslims who don’t share the Islamist medieval creed, no rights for women, no freedom for anyone... [T]he greatest danger facing our world is the marriage of militant Islam with nuclear weapons. To defeat ISIS and let Iran get nuclear weapons would be to win the battle, but lose the war. We can’t let that happen...[T]he days when the Jewish people remained passive in the face of genocidal enemies, those days are over. We are no longer scattered among the nations, powerless to defend ourselves. We restored our sovereignty in our ancient home. And the soldiers who defend our home have boundless courage. For the first time in 100 generations, we, the Jewish people, can defend ourselves....Even if Israel has to stand alone, Israel will stand. But ... I know that America stands with Israel... You stand with Israel, because you know that the story of Israel is not only the story of the Jewish people but of the human spirit that refuses again and again to succumb to history’s horrors. Bibi Netanyahu (12 Adar 5775; 3 March 2015)

The Jews are a peculiar people: things permitted to other nations are forbidden to the Jews. Other nations drive out thousands, even millions, of people, and there is no refugee problem.... [N]o one says a word about refugees. But in the case of Israel displaced Arabs have become eternal refugees.... Other nations - when they are defeated - survive and recover, but should Israel be defeated it would be destroyed.... [A]s it goes with Israel, so it will go with all of us. Should Israel perish the holocaust will be upon us.Eric Hoffer (1968)

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My archived Tuesday blogs at Elder of Ziyon

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אם תרצו , אין זו אגדה

Most of the present Arab countries were given their freedom after the 1914-18 War, or after the 1939-45 War.... Yet to listen to Arab spokesmen one might think that they had been cheated ... because they have not also got Israel. Israel is only .2 per cent of the land where Arab States have been established. Surely no fair-minded man can begrudge the Jews their own promised land when it is remembered that for every 2 acres that went to make up Israel, 1,000 acres became Arab.... Why is there an Arab refugee problem? The oil-rich countries have the money. There is no shortage of land, and the Israelis have the technical knowledge to show how it could be developed and made fertile. Bring those things together and the problem could be solved. 3rd Earl of Balfour (1968)

January 7, 2015 has already its place in the history of infamy, but also will be the date when the defenders of freedom and democracy will rise and pay tribute to those who died for their freedom and ours. Therefore, we must not forget on which side we are and who are our allies in the defense of the West and its values. Whether we admit it or not, the West is at war with an enemy who will not stop to destroy us...The State of Israel boasts a commandment that, in one of the darkest hours in the fight for liberty Winston Churchill taught: "Never give up". Israel has proven to be a key ally in the fight against Islamism and also an example of how a liberal democracy can resist the jihadist stake and thrive as a Western nation ... Not only France but also all the West should look to Israel to defeat Islamism...friendsofisraelinitiative.org

[I]t’s impossible to believe that an active antisemite wouldn’t – if only opportunistically – seek out somewhere to nestle in the manifold pleats of Israel-bashing, whether in generally diffuse anti-Zionism, or in more specific Boycott and Divestment Campaigns, Israeli Apartheid Weeks, End the Occupation movements and the like....[T]ell me that not a single Jew-hater finds the activity congenial, that criticising Israel can “never” be an expression of Jew-hating, not even when it takes the form of accusing Israeli soldiers of harvesting organs...Howard Jacobson (The Independent, 27 May 2013)

What has happened to the 800,000 Jews who lived for over 2000 years in the Arab lands ...? Where are they in Arab society today? You dare talk of racism when I can point with pride ... to the fact that it is as natural for an Arab to serve in public office in Israel as it is incongruous to think of a Jew serving in any public office in an Arab country, indeed being admitted to many of them. Chaim Herzog (6 Kislev 5736; 10 November 1975)

I stand with Israel, I stand with the Jews.... I defend their right to exist, to defend themselves, to not let themselves be exterminated a second time. And, disgusted by the antisemitism of many Europeans ... I am shamed by this shame that dishonours my country and Europe.Oriana Fallaci

For Western countries to side with those who question Israel's legitimacy, for them to play games in international bodies with Israel's vital security issues, for them to appease those who oppose Western values, rather than robustly to stand up in defence of those values, is not only a grave moral mistake, but a strategic error of the first magnitude. Israel is a fundamental part of the West. The West is what it is thanks to its Judeo-Christian roots. If the Jewish element of those roots is lost and Israel is lost, then we are lost too. Jose Maria Aznar

Israel is, for us, a normal and a special country. A normal country, because it is just like any other democracy. A special country, because the Jewish culture, which eventually became the Judeo-Christian culture of the dignity of man, is the conceptual foundation of liberalism and democracy. This is why attacking Israel is tantamount to attacking Europe and the West. This is also why disputing Israel's legitimacy and its right to existence means questioning democracy. And this is why we are Friends of Israel. By defending Israel, we are defending ourselves.Marcello Pera

Israel ... is beset today by a unique combination of threats. It must defend its people from attack while defending its very right to exist. No other nation in the world faces this dual challenge. To deny Israel's right to confront some of the world's most vicious terrorist groups in order to ensure the safety of its citizens is to corrode international norms from within ... The assault on Israel is one part of a more general assault on the West, on democracy, and on the moral and cultural heritage that grew from the fruitful interaction of Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome ... Should these efforts succeed, similar efforts will certainly be turned against other western democracies.George Weigel

Apart from America itself, Israel still stands as the world's brightest model of national self-liberation based on ideals of individual responsibility and human freedom. Israel's ability to withstand Arab attempts to destroy it in one of the longest and most lop-sided wars ever fought serves as an indelible testimony to the strength of democratic culture.... We know from the past that the West paid dearly for ignoring Hitler's war against the Jews. One can only hope it will not pay as dearly for having ignored or underestimated for so long the Arab war against Israel and the Jews. Ruth Wisse

The choice before us is not between victory and defeat, but between victory and annihilation. We therefore have not the slightest intention of allowing the re-creation of the conditions of vulnerability in which we found ourselves, abandoned and alone, in the summer of 1967. Diplomat Michael Comay (1970)

I am duty-bound to defend freedom, culture, peaceful coexistence, the civic education of children, and all the principles that the Tablets of the Law have rendered universal. Principles which Islamic fundamentalism systematically destroys. This means that, since I am a Gentile, a journalist and a leftist, I have a triple moral commitment to Israel. Because, if Israel were to be vanquished, modernity, culture and freedom would also be crushed. Even though the world has failed to wake up to this fact, Israel's struggle is the world's struggle. Pilar Rahola

About Me

I'm a writer/researcher, with many academic books and articles under my own name. Daphne Anson is my blogging alias. Combining the names of two ships, it's a moniker of special significance to me - I'm a naval history buff. I use an alias owing to a perceived need to keep my blogging and professional identities separate. An Aussie, I've long been interested in
politics and foreign affairs, having studied International Relations in the USA and Britain for my first degree, and I also hold a doctorate. I began blogging in response to the exponential rise in antisemitism and hostility to Israel in the wake of the Mavi Marmara affair.

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The spiritual awakening which Jews experienced almost without exception last June must not be allowed to become a sealed and finished episode.... Support must be rallied among men of goodwill and their governments if we are to reach that secure and just peace in the attainment of which Israel has never ceased to believe. President Zalman Shazar (1968)

Our judicial system is one of the best in the whole world. Our democracy is the only one in the Middle East.... Just imagine, what would have happened if the Arabs had, like us, accepted the Partition resolution? There would be a Palestinian State living side by side in peace, security, and, I can add, prosperity with the State of Israel, 62 years later. [C]ome to Israel, and realize how small Israel is and what a wonderful place it is. Diplomat Gabriella Shalev (2010)

Israel's Arab citizens are the only Arabs in the Middle East who enjoy genuine civic and religious rights. Religious freedom is protected in Israel as nowhere else, tragically, in the Middle East. And civil rights, of course, there's a supreme court judge who is an Arab, ministers including in my government who are Arabs, Druze, and members of parliament who are Arabs and so on. I would like to see more involvement of Arabs in civil life.Bibi Netanyahu on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show (5 Nov. 2017)